Volume 29, Issue 4, 2020
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.893
The Effect of Curcumin on Endogenous Neuron Regeneration in Rats after TBI
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effect of curcumin on endogenous neuron regeneration in rats after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.
Methods: TBI model was prepared with controlled cortical impact model. SD rats were divided into 3 groups: control group, TBI+vehicle group and TBI+curcumin group. Serum SOD and MDA levels were detected by ELISA. The cognitive function of the rats was observed by Morris water maze (MWM). Then the TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis of the injured area. NeuN/BrdU immunofluorescence double labeling was used to detect the newly matured neurons in the injured area. Western blot was used to detect DCX protein in the hippocampus.
Results: Curcumin decresed the serum MDA level and increased the serum SOD level in rats with TBI. MWM test showed curcumin decreased the escape latency and increased the number of platform crossover of rats with TBI. The apoptotic cells in the injured area of the rats in the TBI+curcumin group were significantly less than those in other TBI rats. More NeuN+/BrdU+ double-label positive neonatal mature neurons were observed in the cortex of the TBI+curcumin group, which was more significant than those in other TBI rats. The expression of DCX protein in the hippocampus of the rats in the TBI+curcumin group was dramatically more than that in other TBI rats.
Conclusion: Curcumin can reduce the level of oxidative stress in TBI rats, protect neurons from apoptosis, and promote the development of neurons in the injured cortex and hippocampus, thus improving the learning and memory functions of TBI rats.
Keywords
curcumin, traumatic brain injury, oxidative stress, cognitive function